News Briefs for September 26, 2023

•Wilson Daniels has promoted Shannon Coursey to executive vice president of national sales and marketing, effective October 1. Having served as the senior vice president of national sales for four and a half years, in her new role Coursey will lead both the sales force and the marketing team, continuing to report to Wilson Daniels president Rocco Lombardo. “We successfully navigated the pandemic, doubling our business during a trying 54-month period; we nationally launched 18 new producers since 2019; (and) we’ve grown our Wilson Daniels family by 75% since 2015,” said Coursey. “Our plan is to continue the sales growth and visibility in profile accounts for each of our winery partners throughout the U.S.”

•Actor Woody Harrelson has teamed with wellness entrepreneur Amy Holmwood to create the Holistic Spirits Company. The new company launches with two spirits—Origen Specialty vodka and Harmony gin—now available in California, Washington, D.C., Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, and South Carolina, as well as via ReserveBar. The vodka ($40-$46, depending on market) is at 37% abv and is infused with artichoke leaves, muscadine grapes, green tea leaves, and elderberries. The gin, at 45% abv and retailing between $41 and $47, is infused with the same botanical blend as the vodka but with added coriander seed, hyssop, lemon peel, lime peel, angelica root, juniper berries, and orris root.

•Diageo-backed incubator Distill Ventures has made several management moves. Justin Lew has been promoted to managing director, Distill Ventures North America, and Evis Savvides to president, North America Commercial, while Jennie Leuzarder joins as portfolio director. Lew’s appointment follows the promotion of Heidi Dillon to Distill Ventures global CEO. He was previously portfolio director, while Savvides joined the company in 2019 as operating partner.

•Mexico’s Casa Lumbre is launching Alma Finca Orange Liqueur. Made using a combination of fruit and spices from the Yucatán Peninsula, Alma Finca includes sweet and bitter orange peels, fresh Persian lime leaves and citrus blossoms, and local spices. Each ingredient is macerated individually for a period of five days, longer than most triple secs or curacaos. The 40% abv entry is initially debuting in select markets ahead of a national rollout, retailing at $35 a 700-ml.

Tagged : Alma Finca, Casa Lumbre, Diageo, Distill Ventures, Harmony gin, Holistic Spirits Company, Origen, Wilson Daniels

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